Secrets in the Sand by Carolyn Brown

            Anger began to boil up in the depths of Patty’s heart and soul. How dare he pretend to love Angel and then spend the night with another woman? “I need to speak to Clancy,” Patty said through clenched teeth.

            “Who is this?” the woman asked. “Do you realize it’s midnight?”

            “Yes, ma’am,” Patty said, “but I still need to talk to Clancy. This phone call involves Angel Conrad?”

            The woman’s tone changed. “Has something happened to Angela?”

            “No, ma’am,” Patty said.

            “Just a minute. I’ll take his phone to him,” the lady said.

            Patty heard the woman walking across a floor and saying, “Some woman wants to talk to you, Son.”

            “Oh!” A heavy weight lifted from Patty’s heart. Clancy must be staying with his folks.

            A few moments later, Clancy answered the phone. “Hello. Did your plan work?”

            “Yes, but it took some fancy work, so you better appreciate it. Angel is flying to Panama City, and a car will deliver her to the Sugar Sands by the Sea. The rest is up to you,” she said. “Get a pencil and take down this information. She’ll fly out of Dallas on Wednesday morning at seven. Got that?”

            “I still can’t believe you are doing this for me,” Clancy said.

            “We want her back—with you if that’s what it takes to make her happy. Or without you, if she can shake you out of her heart once and for all. But all you’ve got is two weeks, and what happens is up to you. We don’t really give a damn about you, Clancy. We just want Angel to be happy, and we think this is the only way we can make that happen,” Patty said. “And if you tell her about this call, I’ll swear you’re lying. And I don’t have to tell you which one of us she’ll believe.”

            “Thanks,” Clancy said. “I’ll catch a plane out of Oklahoma City on Wednesday morning, and I’ll call for reservations in a nearby hotel. And believe me, I’ll do my best.”

            “Two weeks, Clancy. That’s all you’ve got.” Patty hung up the phone and sent up a prayer that she was doing the right thing.





Chapter 8


            Angel refused to have a car deliver her to the hotel, instead renting a vehicle so she could get around the area. She drove to the Sugar Sands and parked her car in front of the hotel.

            The sky was pure blue, and there wasn’t a single white cloud drifting over the water. The sand was as white as a new bride’s veil, and right then, she was glad she had agreed to a few days away from work, stress, and thoughts of Clancy. She was going to lie on the beach until dark, then soak in the hot tub and read one of the trashy books Patty put in her briefcase from beginning to end.

            “Hello,” she greeted the man behind the desk. “I’m Angel Conrad, and I’ve got reservations for the next couple of weeks.”

            “That’s right.” He smiled. “Room 214, a corner room on the second floor with a nice view of the ocean. Enjoy your stay.” He handed her the key and motioned to the colorful advertising flyers lined up neatly on the east wall. “Let us know if you’d like information about local attractions.”

            “Thank you.” Angel took the key but didn’t stop to pick up any brochures. Playing miniature golf or renting a sailboat wasn’t what this vacation was all about. She was here to say her goodbyes to memories that had haunted her for ten years. Before she left this place on Sunday night, she planned to stand barefoot in the sand and let go of anything that reminded her even remotely of Clancy Morgan. Evidently, she’d been guilty of wearing her heart on her sleeve these past days and her friends had realized she needed some time to straighten out her life. Well, it would be straight come Monday morning, and they would never have to worry about her again.

            Angel ignored the elevator, climbed the stairs to room 214, and opened the door. The suite was far more room than she needed, but she appreciated her friends getting her what was probably the best. She plopped the suitcase down on the bed, then went back down to the car for the rest of her luggage. The office door was open when she returned, and someone else was at the desk. She could hear the clerk telling him the same things he’d just told her with the same intonation, the same smile, the same wave of the hand. The new guest looked vaguely familiar from the back, but she shrugged. She certainly didn’t know anyone in Florida.